Hand truck



L. I. COHN HAND TRUCK Aug. 15, 1950 Filed May 28, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l 0 M 'M We L. l. COHN HAND TRUCK Aug. 15, 1950 Filed May 28 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. I. COHN Aug. 15, 1950 HAND TRUCK Filed May 28, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 15, 1950 P TEN OFFICE asiaiis f TR CK I Bouts Is'raet 001 Philadelphia, Pa. I AEhlioaiionMay 28, 1948, SQriaLNmIZSfiQI This invention relatesfto hand'trucks.

An object of thisinventionis to provide ahand truck which embodies two pairsof wheels so that the truck may be used with either one orboth pairs of; Wheels engaged- With, the floor or other plane surfiace. L

'fenother object of thisinventionis to provide a-hand; truck: which includes collapsible handles on bail-sat each; end. thereof so that the device,

be o al y use as a u h; truck or th device may be carried from the handles or bails;

as where article is being moved; up; or down stairs Afurther object ofthis invention is to provide or bearings for'the front axle and the front coveringonthe upper side of the frame so that v the article's transported by the truck will not he scratched. s V I j A-fur-ther obje'ct of this invention is to provide a hand truck embodying an extensible frame so Eigure 11' 1 afragmentary sectional View of another modification of this invention. f

Referring-to the drawings, the, numeral l des ignates generally a fixed frame structure which; is formed of parallel side members l.l, with the sidemembers ll formed of tubular material. tubes from which theside members are formed are herein disclosed as being substantially square, 4 in transverse section, 'Ifhe side members II at their forward ends are connected togethergbg means of a longitudinally bent tubular connecting bar 13. An interme diate tubular connecting bar It is fixed between the side members Hat I a point substantially midway between the frOnt' and rear members [2 and {3 respectively. connecting members |2, I3 and M are bowed* downwardlyso that a round olqjectmay be seated on the upper side of" the frame.

II-he side members H are provided with qp; positely extending flanges [Fianda rubber sheath or jacket it engages over the front or upper side of eachtubular member I I] andis hooked over the flanges 1'5, as shownin Figure '7. The connecting? bars E3- and M- as shown in" Figure 4 are also" that :articlesof different lengths may be transported."

With the above and other objects in viewgmy invention consists in the arrangement, combina tion and-detailsof construction disclosed in the drawings and'specification, andjthen moreparticul'arly poi-ntedout i n the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation, partly in section; ofa hand truck constructed according tos'a'n" embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detail rearel'evation of the device partly 'brohen away and? in section,

Fi ure-1 3risqa sectional View taken substantially on-the line i 3: of Figure I, Y

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken entire. line 1 4-4 of Figure 2, v Figure 5' isa fragmentary-sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figured, 1

Figure .6 isya fragmentary side,- elevation of the uppe1:-- end of, the extensible frame showing thebail stop,

Figure 7 isa sectional view-taken 1-+.'l=of Figural;

Figure 8 is a fragmentarylongitudinal section of a: modified form of this invention,

Figure 9 is asectional" view taken on the 9- -9101? Figure 8,

Fi ure- 1 3 a a m y sectionalview taken on the line liq-10 Q -F aureQ, v

on the line line' 'alsoincludes extensible side bars 2B which tele scope intothe side bars H and are provided with spaced openings 2 1" within a selected one of which: a set screw-2 2 threadedthrough the side member l l is adapted to engage for holding the extension}? members in selected or extended or retracted position. i The extension members 28 are connected together by meansofajlongitudinally bent con; necting plate or bar 23 and as shown in Figures 5 i andfig the connecting bar or plate 23 hassecured thereto a pair of caster wheels 24." A pang or handle wispivotally secured on a transyerseiy extending ba'rflor rod 26 extending through "the extension bars 25', and thebail 25 includes a't'iibu -f' l ar member 2:! rotatably carriedby the central}; portion 28. A tubular member 'or' sleeve is alsov disposed about the rod 26 between the extension" members 20 and provides a handle Which-f may be used when the bail 25 is in'collapsed p'o'si tion; The hailf'25is" swingable across 'theoute'f ends of the extension members 23 and is limited in its forward movement by means of a pair of stop plates 33 fixed to theextension members 20, as shown in Figure 1.

The stop members 39 will hold the ball 25 at an obtuse angle with respect to the extension members 25. When the 'bail 25 is collapsed it is swung counter-clockwise as viewed in Figure l, and is held in its collapsed position by means of spring clips 3| which are fixed to the lower or rear sides of the extension members 20. v

The frame Iii at its lower or forward end has secured thereto a pair of right angularly disposed tubular members 32 which are connected together at their upper or outer ends by a connecting bar 33. A plate 34 is fixed to the inner or rear sides of the tubular members 32 and forms an abutment against which the article engaging on the connecting bars l2, l3 and I4 is adapted to abut.

- A collapsible U-shaped bail 35 is pivotally mounted on a transversely extending rod 35 which extends between the tubular members 32 and a sleeve or tubular member 31 engages about the rod 35 between the tubular members 32. The central portion 38 of the ball 35 has a tubular member 39 loosely mounted thereon forming a handle, and the bail 35 is limited in its outward swingin movement by means of a pair of stop.

members 40 which are fixed to the outer sides ofthe tubular members 32 adjacent the outer ends of the latter.

{The ball 35 is adapted to be held in collapsed position with the parallel side members 4! thereof extending lengthwise of the tubular members 32 bymeans of spring clips 42. The spring clips 42 are fixed to the forward or lower ends of the side members II. The forward portion of the frame [0 has mounted thereon a pair of wheels 43 and in the present instance the wheels 43 are mounted partly within U-shaped or channelshaped supporting and bracing members 44 which are fixed to the side members II and extend forwardly from. the side members on an obtuse angle.

The wheels 43 rotatably engage in cut-outs 45 which are formed in the web 45 of the channel members 44 and as herein disclosed, the two wheels 43 are mounted on a common axle or shaft 41 with a tubular spacer 43 disposed between the two channel members 44. I

Referring now to Figures 8, 9 and 10, there is disclosed a modified form of this invention embodying a frame structure Illa similar in every detail to the frame Ill, having a pair of front wheels 43a mounted between paral el sides of channel members 44a which are fixed to the frame Illa and extend forwardly and downwardly on an obtuse angle. The forward end of the frame Illa has secured thereto a pair of tubular members which are connected together at their inner ends by a connecting plate 5|. The tubular members 50 have slidab e therein tubular extensionmembers 52 formed with openings 53 within which set screws 54 are adapted to selectively engage for holding the extension members 52 in either extended or retracted position.

The outer ends of the extension members 52 are connected together by a connecting member 55; which in the present instance is in the form of an angle member and a pair of caster wheels 56 are carried bv the connecting rcember 55 and areadapted to cooperate with the forward wheels 43a in movably supporting the frame I!) on the floor, or plane surface with the frame Illa in upright position and the head formed by the tubular members 50 and 52 in a horizontal position. The extension members 52 have pivotally secured thereto a U-shaped bail 51 which is limited in its upward swinging movement to operative position by means of a stop 58 secured to the end of the connecting member 55. When the extension member formed by the extension tubes 52 and connecting member 55 is in retracted position, the bail 51 is adapted to be r'eleasably secured in inoperative position with the sides thereof parallel with the tubular members 50, by means of spring clips 59 secured to the forward ends of the sides forming the frame lfla. In other respects the structure shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 to '7 inclusive.

In the use and operation of this hand truck, the article to be moved is engaged on the saddle formed by the longitudinally bent connecting members I2, 13 and M, the concave sides of these members being uppermost. If-desired, the truck may be moved with the frame [0 in a partly elevated position and the wheels or rollers 43 engaging with the floor or plane surface. In this position of the truck, the bail 25 may be collapsed to the dotted position shown in Figure 1. If the article is relatively heavy, the frame It may be lowered to a substantially horizontal position so that the caster wheels 24 will also engage the floor or plane surface with the wheels 43. The truck may be pushed over the floor or plane surface by extending the forward bail 35. If it is necessary to carry thev article on this truck up a stairway, the two bails 25 and 35 may be swung 43 substantially enclosed. within the channel members 44, the latter may be used as skids, moving the truck either up or down the stairs without scratching the stairs.

Referring now to Figure 11, the wheels 43b corresponding to the wheels 43 in Figure 1 are journaled in the channelled wheel supports 44b, and may be locked against rotation when the truck is upright by means of retractable stop members 60. The stop members 50 are carried by spring- ..pressed plungers 5| which are extendible from housings 62. The housings 52 are fixed to the channel members 44b, and the plungers 6| which extend above the housings B2 and have knobs 63 thereon are releasably locked by locking rings 54. It will be understood that the structure shown in Figure 11 may be used with the truck shown in either Figure 1 or Figure 8.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hand truck comprising a rectangular frame formed of parallel side bars, connecting bars fixed between said side bars, a right angalarly disposed head member fixed. to the forward ends of said side bars, a pair of front wheels, and combined skid and wheel bearing members fixed to said side bars and inclined downwardly and 5 said sidev walls and projecting downwardly through said cutout. V

2. A hand truck comprising a rectangular frame formed of parallel side bars connecting bars fixed between said side bars, oppositely disposed lengthwise extending flanges carried by the front faces of said side bars and' certain ones of said connecting bars, a slotted rubber covering engaging over the front faces of said side bars and said certain ones of said connecting bars and extending about said flanges, a right angularly disposed head member fixed to the forward ends of said side bars, a pair of front wheels, and combined skid and wheel bearing members fixed to said side bars and inclined obtusely relative thereto.

3. A hand truck comprising a rectangular frame formed of parallel side, bars, connecting bars fixed between said side bars, each side bar comprising a pair of telescoping tubular members, a wheel rotatably carried .by each tubular member, means securing said tubular members'in endwise adjusted position, a right angularly disposed head member fixed to the forward ends of said side bars, said head member being formed of tubular members and adapted to be swung downwardly into retracted juxtaposition with said head member, and means carried by said inner pair of tubular members for releasably holding said bail in retracted position.

LOUIS ISRAEL COHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 608,898 Nutting Aug. 9, 1898 910,304 Nash Jan. 19, 1909 1,164,332 Brown Dec. 14, 1915 1,270,024 Evenson Dec. 2, 1919 2,277,302 Chenette Mar. 24, 1942 

